Toilet tank cover set



Jan. 19, 1965 M. FISHER 3,166,112

TOILET TANK COVER SET Filed March 14, 1963 INVENTOR. MANUEL FISHER MBSW 3,166,112 Patented Jan. 18, 1865 United States Patent Ofiice 3,166,112 TOILET TANK COVER SET Manuel Fisher, Charlotte, N.C., assignor to Perfect Fit Industries,'- Inc., New York,'N.Y., acorporation of Pennsylvania Filed Mar. 14,1963, Ser. No. 265,228

a. ..C ms-. (Cl. 150--52) In general, thisihveiitio'n' relates to a new and improved toilet tank'cdver'set andfmore particularly, to a better toilet tank cover set' which is' simpler to manufacture and easy to install. V p

In the past, toilet tank cover sets have been manufactured from terry cloth and other moisture absorbent materials to eliminate sweating of the toilettank and provide a more pleasing appearance for it. However, prior toilet tank cover sets required intricate designs in order to compensate for the number of pipes under the toilet tank, and additionally were not adaptable to all sizes of toilet tanks.

It is the general object of this invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other difliculties of the prior art practices by the provision of a new and better toilet tank cover set.

Another object is the provision of a better toilet tank cover set which can be manufactured from two rectangular sheets of moisture absorbent material and will fit all sizes of toilet tanks.

Still another object is the provision of a new and better toilet tank cover set which can be easily installed on any size toilet tank in a matter of seconds.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the toilet utilizing the toilet tank cover set of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a back elevational view of the toilet of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the toilet tank cover of the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of the upper lefthand corner of the toilet tank cover of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the toilet tank top cover of the present invention.

In the drawings, a toilet is shown generally designated by the numeral 10. The toilet includes a tank 12 having a tank top 14 formed in the usual manner. A toilet tank cover 16 is provided to cover the tank 12 and a toilet tank top cover 18 is provided to cover the toilet tank top 14. The covers 16 and 18 are both formedof a moisture absorbent material such as terry cloth so as to absorb any sweating of the toilet tank 12 and its top 14. Further, these covers 16 and 18 can be manufac-' tured in any one of a variety of colors to provide a more attractive appearance for the toilet tank.

The toilet tank 12 is adapted to supply water to a toilet bowl 20 having a toilet seat cover 22. The toilet seat cover 22 might also be provided with a fabric covering which is color coordinated with the tank cover 16 and top cover 18 discussed previously. However, the toilet seat covering is a standard item of commerce and does not form a part of the present invention.

A toilet tank flush lever 24 is adapted to pass through the tank cover 16 in a manner which will be discussed below.

The toilet tank cover 16 is shown stretched out flat in FIGURE 3. The cover 16 is formed of a rectangular piece of terry cloth having parallel long top and bottom edges 26 and 28 respectively and shorter side edges 30 and 2 32 respectively. The long edges 26 and 28 are stitched 71 so as to prevent unraveling and increase the strength of the cover in a direction parallel to these edges. A pair of female metal snaps 34 andf36 are placed on opposite ends of side edge 30. I Similarly, a second pair of'female metal snaps 38 and are placed at opposite en d sof side edge 32. The female snaps 34 and 38 are utilized with posite ends thereof. The male snaps 46 and'48 are edge 28 of the cover 16.

adapted to'snap into engagement with the female snaps 34 and 38 respectively. The joining strip 44 has male snaps 50 and 52 at opposite'ends thereof. These male connecting snaps 50 and,5 2 are adapted to snap into'en-' gagement with female snaps 36 and 40 along the bottom The tank top cover is formed from a rectangular piece of terry cloth having an elastic strip 56 sewn around all its edges so as to gather the edges inwardly in a manner whereby the tank top cover 18 can be stretched into place over the tank top 14 in a simple and easy manner. In prior art tank top covers, the covers were formed with serged corners in the same manner one would manufacture a box. By utilizing a rectangular piece of material with an elastic edge, the need for serging has been eliminated while maintaining all of the functional advantages of prior art tank top covers.

The tank cover 16 has a horizontal slot 54 formed therein for receiving the flush lever 24.

The tank cover of the present invention is installed in the following manner:

First, the tank top 14 is removed from the tank 12. The tank cover 16 is installed by merely placing the lever 24 through the hole 54 which automatically positions the cover 16 in a manner whereby the connecting strips 42 and 44 can be stretched and snapped into place across the back of the tank 12 as shown in FIGURE 2. Thus, the

tank cover 16 covers the front, two sides, and part of the back of the tank 12.

The position of the hole 54 insures that the upper edge 26 of the tank cover 16 will be underneath the tank top 14 when it is replaced. First, the tank top 14 is covered with the cover 18 by stretching the elastic edge 5'6 and allowing it to contract over the open end of the tank top 14. Then, the tank top 14 with its cover 18 in place is returned to the position shown in FIGURE '1. In this position, the fabric 58 of the tank top cover 18 seals the tank top 14 around most of its edges so as to prevent the escape of moisture from within the tank 12.

It it is desired to wash the tank cover 16, the straps 42 and 44 areremoved by unsnapping the male snaps 46,

48, 50 and 52. Then, the rectangular terry cloth cover 16 can be easily machine-washed without worrying about loose straps catching in the washing machine. Further, it simple to reinstall the tank cover as it only entails resnapping the connecting strips 42 and 44 in place. The use of the opening 54 insures the accurate location of the tank cover 16. By not providing a bottom panel, the tank cover need not be designed for various arrangements of pipes leading into the tank 12. v

Further, in the manufacture of the tank cover and the tank top cover, only two rectangular-pieces of moisture absorbent material need be utilized. This aids in saving a considerable amount of money as rectangular cut-outs can be made with little or no scrap.

The, present invention maybe embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the inventions.

I claim: 7 t V 1. A toilet tank cover set-comprising a single flexible,

being remova'bly connected in parallel relation to said long edges between'said short edges,,a part ofsaid rectangular pie cehaving; a slot therein and a separate second rectangular pieceof moistureabsorbent fabric, said second rectangular piece having an elastic,strip sewn about its periphery whereb on the topof any toilet tank,

2. The tankcover se't'of claim 1 including firstf snap members similar one to another mountedon, opposite ends y it may be; universally mounted of said connecting strips, and second snap members simi- Y lar one to another and adapted to matewith said first snapmembers mounted on the four corners of said planar 4 removed. from said first rectangular piece when said planar rectangular piece is tube washed.

3. The toilet tank cover set of claim 2 wherein said connecting strips are elastic, said first snap members are metal male snaps, .and said second snap members are female metal snaps.

I References Cited'by-the Examiner l UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 2,652,875

, OTHER REFERENCES; i a The Washington Evening Star publication entitled, "Iankettes for Bathroom Beauty, May 7, 1952.- a

rectangulartpiece wherein said connecting strips may be 20 EDWARD V. BENHAM; Primary Examiner. 

1. A TOILET TANK COVER SET COMPRISING A SINGLE FLEXIBLE, PLANAR RECTANGULAR PIECE OF MOISTURE ABSORBENT FABRIC ADAPTED FOR UNIVERSAL MOUNTING ON THE SIDES OF ANY TOILET TANK BY WRAPPING IT THEREAROUND, SAID RECTANGULAR PIECE HAVING PARALLEL LONG EDGES AND PARALLEL SHORT EDGES, A PAIR OF ELASTIC CONNECTING STRIPS, SAID CONNECTING STRIPS BEING REMOVABLE CONNECTED IN PARALLEL RELATION TO SAID LONG EDGES BETWEEN SAID SHORT EDGES, A PART OF SAID RECTANGULAR PIECE HAVING A SLOT THEREIN, AND A SEPARATE SECOND RECTANGULAR PIECE OF MOISTURE ABSORBENT FABRIC, SAID SECOND RECTANGULAR PIECE HAVING AN ELASTIC STRIP SEWN ABOUT ITS PERIPHERY WHEREBY IT MAY BE UNIVERSALLY MOUNTED ON THE TOP OF ANY TOILET TANK. 